Dental prosthesis with concealed hook

ABSTRACT

Dental prosthesis having one or more false teeth arranged to be removably secured to adjacent natural teeth in the mouth, the prosthesis being secured by a pair of hooks or calliper which are arranged to hook around the natural teeth, one hook may be fixed in relation to the prosthesis whilst the second may be pivotally mounted and sprung to act towards the fixed hook, the pivotal axis of the sprung hook being at right angles to the working face of the teeth.

United States Patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1966 Oddo, Jr. 32/5 Narboni July 3, 1973 [5 DENTAL PROSTHESIS WITH CONCEALED 2.61 L956 91195-2 Coleman 32/5 HOOK U Inventor: zl gsi g zg g g g :l' de la Primary ExaminerRobert Peshock c sur Attorney-Young & Thompson Orge, France [22] Filed: June 17, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 153,953 I57] ABSTRACT Foreign pp l y Data Dental prosthesis having one or more false teeth ar- June 19, 1970 France 7023938 ranged to be removably secured to adjacent natural Dec. 8, 1970 France 7044023 teeth in the mouth, the prosthesis being secured by a pair of hooks or calliper which are arranged to hook [52] US. Cl. 32/5 around the natural teeth, one hook may be fixed in re- [51] Int. Cl. t. A6lc 13/22 lation to the prosthesis whilst the second may be pivot- [58] Field of Search 32/5, 6, 7 ally mounted and sprung to act towards the fixed hook, the pivotal axis of the sprung hook being at right angles [56] References Cited to the working face of the teeth.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JUL3 I973 FIG. 6

- AWE/Wag DENTAL PROS'IIIESIS WITH CONCEALED HOOK The present invention relates to dental prostheses intended to replace one or more missing teeth and arranged to be secured in removable manner in the mouth, by anchoring to the adjacent tooth or teeth.

Until now, these prostheses were held in position by fixed anchoring hooks rising up to almost the top of the adjacent tooth, up to the enlarged part of this tooth, thereupon extending downwards again almost to the neck in the counter-taper area, and finally rising again on the outer vestibulary face which was very unsightly. Moreover, the tooth of the prosthesis adjacent to the hook had to be recessed to the extent of the volume of the hook to allow the same to be hooked to the tooth of the plate, which formed a very noticeable and unlovely whole.

The object of the invention is to embody a dental prosthesis eliminating these shortcomings.

The dental prosthesis according to the invention is characterised by a container fastened to the prosthesis, on the face of the same opposed to the working face of the tooth or teeth, against the action of a return spring.

In a particular form of embodiment of the invention, the anchoring hook co-operates with a counterpart in unit with the prosthesis and may moreover be pushed inwards into the case against the action of the spring.

In another form of embodiment, the anchoring hook consists of an elastic material and comprises two portions connected by a loop situated within the case, which two portions may be moved apart from each other by elastic deformation of the loop.

Two forms of embodiment of a prosthesis according to the invention have been described hereinafter by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a first form of embodiment and equally shows the mouth into which the prosthesis is to fit.

FIG. 2 is .an exploded view in perspective of one of the'cases and of the corresponding anchoring hook of the prosthesis of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in section of the prosthesis abreast of a case.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the anchoring hook being in the opened position.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation of a part of the prosthe- SIS.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a second form of embodiment of the prosthesis.

FIG. 7 is a view in section showing the double anchoring hook of the prosthesis of FIG. 6, and of the case in which this double hook is situated.

A prothesis intended to be affixed to a maxilla 2m between two teeth 3 and 4, is apparent at l in FIG. 1.

At each of the extremities of the prosthesis 1, under the inward face of the same, is affixed a flat milled case 5. In this case is arranged to pivot and to be axially displaced an anchoring hook-6 which protrudes laterally from the case; this hook is held in position by a screw 7 which traverses holes 8 of the case as well as an elongated perforation 9 of the hook and on which is screwed a nut 10. The screw 7 extends at right angles to the working face or occlusal surface of the teeth, that is to say that it is vertical when the prosthesis is in position; it extends beyond the nut and is screwed into the prosthesis which holds the case in position. A spring ll interposed between the bottom of the case' and a projection 6a of the hook 6- tends to impel the hook into the position illustrated in FIG. 3 and in which it is extended as far as possible out of the case whilst being close to a counterpart 12 in unit with the prosthesis 1.

To secure the prosthesis, it is placed in position whilst engaging the counterparts l2 behind the teeth 3' and 4 and whilst tipping it outwards. The anchoring hooks 6 are moved away from the counterparts whilst being pushed into their cases 5 to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 4, which enables the wide part of the teeth 3 and 4 to pass between the hooks 6 and the counterparts 12. After this, the hooks 6 under return impulsion by the springs 1 1, re-assume their initial positions whilst being applied and clamped on the neckeddown parts of the teeth 3 and 4 which are then enclamped over approximately three-quarters of their circumference (FIG. 5). The hooks are practically invisible, especially if they are covered by a plastic covering of ivory colour or by a ceramic coating.

In the form of embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the prosthesis 13 comprises a double anchoring hook 14 of an elastic metal, the counterpart in unit with the prosthesis being omitted in this form. This double anchoring hook comprises two rectilinear branches 14a and 14b, arranged side-by-side and joined together by a loop 14c; these rectilinear branches are arranged in a case 15 open at one of its extremities, which is fastened to the prosthesis and within which they are held securely by means of a screw 16 and of a nut 17. Each of the branches 14a and 14b is continued outside the case 15 by an anchoring portion 14d or 14e. The screw could fit with a definite degree of play in the branch Me which would endow the fastening with a degree of flexibility favourable to the durability of the teeth used as supports.

Upon placing the prosthesis in position, the branches 14d and Me move away from each other as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 7, to allow of traversal by the wider part of the tooth adjacent to the prosthesis. The hook then returns to its initial shape under the action of its elasticity, whilst enclamping the base of this tooth.

It is evident that the invention should not be considered as being limited to the forms of embodiment described and illustrated but, on the contrary, covers all modified forms. The prosthesis 13 could thus comprise a double anchoring hook 14 at each of its extremities. The prosthesis could consist of two portions joined together by a dome intended to fit under the palate and of which each would be equipped either with a hook 6 and a counterpart 12 or with a double hook 14.

What I claim is:

1. A dental prosthesis adapted to be removably secured in the mouth by anchoring to at least one adjacent tooth, the prosthesis comprising at least one false tooth having an occlusal surface, a pair of hooks car ried by the prosthesis and opening toward each other, a recess in said prosthesis, a pivot fixedly mounted on said prosthesis in said recess, one hook having a projection that extends into said recess, said projection having an elongated slot extending therethrough, said fixed pivot being slidably disposed in said slot, and spring means acting between said recess and said projection continuously yieldably urging said hook away from said recess and toward said other hook.

post and secured at one of its ends to one of said hooks and at the other of said ends to the other of said hooks and continuously yieldably urging said hooks toward each other, said recess being of a size and shape to permit said hooks to move away from each other against the action of said loop. 

1. A dental prosthesis adapted to be removably secured in the mouth by anchoring to at least one adjacent tooth, the prosthesis comprising at least one false tooth having an occlusal surface, a pair of hooks carried by the prosthesis and opening toward each other, a recess in said prosthesis, a pivot fixedly mounted on said prosthesis in said recess, one hook having a projection that extends into said recess, said projection having an elongated slot extending therethrough, said fixed pivot being slidably disposed in said slot, and spring means acting between said recess and said projection continuously yieldably urging said hook away from said recess and toward said other hook.
 2. A dental prosthesis adapted to be removably secured in the mouth by anchoring to at least one adjacent tooth, the prosthesis comprising at least one false tooth having an occlusal surface, a pair of hooks carried by the prosthesis and opening toward each other, a recess in said prosthesis, a post in said recess, and a resilient loop Disposed in said recess and encircling said post and secured at one of its ends to one of said hooks and at the other of said ends to the other of said hooks and continuously yieldably urging said hooks toward each other, said recess being of a size and shape to permit said hooks to move away from each other against the action of said loop. 